Small Group Exploration spiced with Shared Group Experiences – normally no more than 2 - 5 travellers on the tour, yet part of the itinerary/day tours are Shared Group Experiences: Halong Bay: Max. 20 travellers on the boat. On the overall Vietnam North to South tour, you can be min. 1 and max 8 travellers. You can book 1 person on this tour, but we cannot guarantee more participants. WANT THIS ALL TO YOURSELF? For an additional 40 USD per person you can secure this as a Guaranteed Private Tour. Plea

Vietnam - the country of the beautiful landscapes. They are divided into 3 main regions: Northern, Central and Southern part. Once you come to visit, you will be surprised by its beauty. This tour consists of the most interesting tourist attractions from the North to the South of the country. It is suitable for travellers who want to discover the new world.

Included: Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included according to itinerary only
Accommodation: 2-star standard hotels with private bathroom referring to itinerary
Entrance fees: All entrance fees are included in the trip according to the itinerary
Transport: Car/minibus, train, plane, motorbike and boat where stated in itinerary
English speaking tour guide: Included on part of the tour, please refer to itineraryNot included: · Personal travel insurance (compulsory)
· Tips to guide and driver
· Drinks and personal expenses

All other expenses not stated as included in the above

· In 24 days you are ensured to see most of the highlights Vietnam offers, whilst not having to think about the practicalities. It is all taken care of!
· Trek, cruise, beach relax and city visit your way from North to South
· Get to know the Vietnamese history, culture and customs as you go – we promise you the best of the best!

Rejserute

Vietnam North to South Adventure - Hanoi to Chau Doc - 24 Days

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

On arrival in Hanoi you'll be picked up and transported to Hanoi center.

Accomodation: Overnight at Silver Legend Hotel, or similar

Day 2: Hanoi

Around 08:00 am you'll be picked up from your hotel and join a group tour. We'll drive to visit Ho Chi Minh complex, including Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum – the final resting place of the Vietnamese great father uncle Ho, President Ho Chi Minh's stilt House – where he lived on and off from 1958 to 1969, One Pillar Pagoda – a group of structures consisting of a pagoda and a tower built in the middle of a square lake. We leave One Pillar Pagoda and drive to West Lake to visit Tran Quoc pagoda and have lunch.

After lunch, you will visit the Temple of literature and the Museum of Ethnology – the most interesting museum in Hanoi, with many different things relating to the 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. After that, you will visit Hoan Kiem Lake (Restore Sword Lake). The last place of the tour is the old quarters of Hanoi, where you can walk around. Tour ends at your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Overnight at Silver Legend Hotel, or similar
Note: All museums are closed on Monday. Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is closed on Monday, Friday, the whole month of October and November! Long dresses are requested when visiting the mausoleum, temple and pagoda

Day 3: Hanoi/ Night train to Sapa

Free until pick up at 19:30 - 20:00 pm and transfer to train station for the night train to Lao Cai (Sapa).

Day 4: Sapa Minority Trek

The train arrives at Lao Cai train station early in the morning, from where you will be picked up and transported by shared bus to Sapa (35 km - about 1 hour drive). The bus will drop you off at Cat Cat Hotel. Here, you will have time to have breakfast (on your own expense) and relax before our tour guide comes to meet you. He will then provide you with more information about the trek.

At 09:00 am we transfer you by car to Km7 O Quy Ho. From this place, you start trekking down the field and have time to visit Doi Bang. Having lunch at a local family by a primary school.

After lunch, you continue trekking to visit Sin Chai village, where the Black H'mong people live - the Black H'mong are proud of their culture, they have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing.
You will arrive at your homestay at around 15:00 pm and after that it is your free time to explore the area. You will be having dinner with the family and spend the night at Sin Chai village.

Day 5: Sapa Minority Trek

After having early breakfast, at 07:30 am you say good bye to the host and walk through Cat Cat tourism area and then continue your trek to Y Linh Ho - a small community in the hill's.

In the afternoon, visiting Lao Chai village and learning more about their culture and customs. Then walking to Ta Van village to visit Zay people - The Zay minority people in Ta Van have their own traditional culture and lifestyle. They still live in traditional houses, which are built in wood and bamboo with clay floor. You'll have dinner and sleep overnight in Ta Van.

Day 6: Sapa - Night Train back to Hanoi

After having breakfast, at 09:00 am you will leave Ta Van and trek to Giang Ta Chai village, where you can see the Red Dao people. The women of Red Dao have very colorful red embroideries, coins on their clothing, and on their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because a hairless face is considered by the the Red Dao people to be very beautiful. Making a stop for lunch before leaving Giang Ta Chai and driving towards Sapa. In Sapa, you will wait to catch the bus at Cat Cat hotel. Drive in the shared bus to the train station, and go by overnight train in soft sleeper with Air-con back towards Hanoi.

Get ready for one of the most remarkable experiences you will have – exploring Halong Bay away from the crowds.
You will be picked up around 08:30 - 09:10 am in the morning from your Hanoi hotel and slowly leave Hanoi behind. Flow through the beautiful scapes of Hanoi outskirts, pass lush rice fields and take in the local life outside your windows.
Just past noon you will embark your ship, your home for the days ahead.

After check-in procedure at the pier, enjoy a thirst-quenching welcome drink and meet your fellow sailors. Your lunch will be served while cruising among rough limestone islands standing tall before you. Majestic, beautiful and rough – just as nature created it.

As you sail deeper into the Halong Bay you will stop at Trong Cave for a bit of kayaking. Going by kayak allows you to get closer to the inlets and the raw nature and gives you a sense of freedom.

Back at the boat you will have time to relax before your dinner is served around 19:00 pm. As the night falls you will have the choice to entertain yourself with squid fishing, karaoke, board games, movies or star gazing on the upper deck with a cool drink in hand.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on boat

Day 8: Halong Bay.

Sail, kayak, go cave hunting and explore the less crowded areas of Halong Bay
After breakfast on the boat, sail along the majestic limestone islands. Slowly you will find the less crowded areas of Halong Bay. In a quiet and remote bay go by kayak to get a closer view of the karst islands. Paddle close to the steep cliffs, find your own hidden spot and enjoy the beauty of nature. Find a fine spot for lunch before proceeding through the landscape to a magnificent and less visited cave. If time permits, you can do a bit of kayaking in the late afternoon amongst the amazing inlets.

At your anchor point for the night a BBQ dinner is served on board the restaurant deck. The rest of the evening is free at your own leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight on boat

Day 9: Halong Bay to Hanoi.

Slowly cruise back towards mainland for your return to Hanoi.
Rise early to spot a beautiful sunrise, and have breakfast. Before the crowds arrive, you will set foot in Sung Sot Cave - one of the most spectacular and largest grottoes of Halong Bay. You will enter a world of stalactites hanging from above and rays of lights and shapes wherever you look.

Back at the boat, check out from your room at 9:30 am (you still have access to your luggage on board and ability to store it). You are almost ready to head back to shore and you will enjoy more of Halong Bay as you slowly make you way back. Pass islets shaped as a Fighting Cock, Incense Urn, Lonely Dog, Finger and Duck. Your creativity and imagination are nurtured in Halong Bay.

Lunch will be served on the boat on the way back to Halong harbour around noon and upon arrival back at the Halong Bay harbour swap from boat to vehicle and start your trip back to Hanoi.

You will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter around 16:30 pm. Later in the evening you'll be pick up at 21:00pm (please arrange place with us in advance) and transported to the train station to catch the night train from Hanoi to Hue at 22:00 pm.

Day 10: Hue City

Arrive in Hue at about 10:30 am, where you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Afternoon, you will have free time to explore the town.

Accommodation: Overnight at Bealieu Boutique Hotel, or similar

Day 11: Hue/ Trip to DMZ

You will be picked up at your hotel in Hue at 08:00 am and drive to Quang Tri. We make our first stop at Hien Luong Bridge (Ben Hai River) - an important landmark in the partition of the country into Northern and Southern Vietnam along the 17th parallel by the Geneva Accords of 1954. Just another 30-minutes drive will take you to the Vinh Moc Tunnel - the shelter of 60 local families during the Vietnam War. The trip highlights should not be missed are the Ho Chi Minh Trails, Dong Ha town and Rock Pile.

Day 12: Hue/ Transfer to Hoi An

After having breakfast in the hotel, we'll leave Hue at 09:00 am and drive to Hoi An. Stop enroute for a visit to Marble mountain. The car (minibus) will arrive in Hoi An at noon, where you'll have lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we take a private city tour by foot in the Ancient Quarter of Hoi An, where you can discover the historic town which used to be a prosperous seaport city during the 17th to 18th centuries. The city tour includes a visit to Japanese covered bridge, Phung Hung Ancient House, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Hoian Local Market.

Day 13: Hoian culinary active outskirts

Pick up at 08:30 am from your hotel and transfer to the address 548 Cua Dai Street, which is the starting point for your adventure ahead. Slowly you will concur the streets and start the day by cycling along the Thu Bon River paying a visit to a local fishing village.

Continue riding at a peaceful pace along country lanes while taking in the mesmerizing natural surroundings. Observe local life on the go and pause to see farmers toiling in their rice fields using centuries of farming practices. Peddle your way through palm forests, across bridges and past fields of water buffalos.

Take a short break with a local family at Cam Thanh Village before enjoying an hour ride in one of the famous, yet traditional round Basket Boats in the Water Coconut Palm Forest.

Continue riding your bike to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village where a large variety of vegetables are produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices, which the local villagers have used for centuries and are still being used extensively today. Visit a local family and after a short, informative and fun cooking lesson, we sit down for a delicious lunch. Enjoy!

After lunch, ride back to your hotel where the tour ends around 15:30 pm – with stomachs full and your curiosity satisfied. For today at least!

Day 14: Free day in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Hai Yen Hotel, or similar

Day 15: Free day in Hoi An

Your free day to explore Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Hai Yen Hotel, or similar

Day 16: Free day in Hoi An

Your free day to explore Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Hai Yen Hotel, or similar

Day 17: Hoi An/Danang/Flight to Nha Trang

You are free until the pick up and transfer to Danang airport for a morning flight to Nha Trang. On arrival, pick up and transfer to Nha Trang center.

Free and easy day for you.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Galaxy Hotel, or similar

Day 18: Nha Trang

Free and easy day in Nha Trang.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Galaxy Hotel, or similar

Day 19: Easy rider from Nha Trang to Lak

 08:30 am: Pick-up from your hotel in Nha Trang city and depart for Buon Me Thuot.
 Enjoy the best coffee in Vietnam
 Enjoy the ocean view road
 Visit a cacao plantation
 Visit rubber, cashew and black pepper plantations
 Visit at Ede minority Village on the way
 Travel along the Phoenix pass (effected by Agent Orange)
 Stop over at fishing village

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Lak Guesthouse, or similar

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Gold Dream Hotel, or similar

Day 21: Bus trip Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City

After having breakfast, you will catch a bus from Da Lat to Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Saigon Odyssey Hotel, or similar

Day 22: Ho Chi Minh City - Mekong Delta

The tour starts at your hotel at around 08:00 am, from here we drive to Cai Be. On the way to Cai Be, you can see green rice fields stretching towards the horizon. After arrival in Cai Be, we take a sampan (local transport) cruise to visit the rice cake producer, rice paper workshop and the popcorn/coconut candy mill. After the production visit we go to the Cai Be floating market, where sellers and buyers are bargaining and exchanging their goods from their boats. We then visit the Ba Kiet ancient house, where we also have lunch.

After lunch we take a boat to visit the An Binh islands Vinh Long. On An Binh there will be a chance to enjoy the local tropical fruits while listening to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music" performed by the islanders. We then continue our drive to Cant Tho, where we check-in at our hotel. In the evening you will have dinner and time to explore the area by yourself.

Day 23: Cai Rang Floating Market - Chau Doc.

After breakfast, we start our trip with a boat cruise on the endless Mekong River, to the colourful Cai Rang floating market. At the market there will be hundreds of boats loaded with fruits, vegetables and fish. We continue the trip with another visit to a market located beside the river. At the market we can watch the local people buy, sell or exchange their products. From the market visiting a village to see the locals' way of living. Leaving the local village and driving to Chau Doc Town, where we visit the woman pagoda and Thoai Ngoc Hau Temple.

Day 24: Mekong Delta - PhnomPenh.

Check out from your hotel. You will be picked up and transfer to boat quay. From here, you take an express boat trip from Chau Doc – PhnomPenh at 07:30 am. Your trip ends after the 5 hours boat trip at Phnompenh boat quay.

Meals: Breakfast
Note:The agriculture farm tour depends on the season. The details are just basic, we will visit more attractions, provide more information, more stories. Expect a Halong Bay expedition where the full day takes place in remote waters. The exact itinerary, visiting options and sailing route is dependent on the conditions of the day.